BRIDGETOWN, Barbados,  CMC – Jamaican Andre Creary has been appointed captain of a 15-man West Indies squad announced yesterday to do battle in next year’s ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.

The right-handed batsman will lead a side that also includes prolific 17-year-old Barbadian opener Kraigg Brathwaite and the exciting Trinidadian batting duo of Yannick Ottley and Yannic Cariah,
Creary, who missed this year’s regional youth tournament through injury, led the Under-19 side to the WICB President’s Cup in October and brings solid experience to the job.
He is the only returning member from last year’s squad and was good enough to be called up to the makeshift West Indies senior team during the bitter strike earlier this year, though he did not make his international debut.

Creary made his first class debut against the touring Bangladeshis in July, but managed just 17 in the drawn match at Kensington Oval.

Several players have missed out from the 20-man training squad but chairman of selectors Clyde Butts said yesterday he believed the side was a strong one which was well balanced.

“I think we have a very good team and I am confident they have the ability to go all the way. The team is a balanced one with quality batting, very good bowling and excellent in the field,” said Butts.

“I especially expect a lot from the two leg-spinners (Akeem) Dwyer and (Yannic) Carriah, who are capable match-winners. They (team) know what is required and the two leg-spinners add to the balance because they are very capable batsmen as well.”

SQUAD – Andre Creary (captain), Jermaine Blackwood, Nelson Bolan, Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Yannic Cariah, Akeem Dewar, Shane Dowrich, Nicholson Gordon, Trevon Griffiths, Jason Holder, Keon Joseph, Evin Lewis, Yannick Ottley, Jomel Warrican.